Culpeper County infant recovering at hospital after multiple bites by family dog

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(File photo: LillyM/Wikimedia)

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An infant boy is recovering at Inova Fairfax hospital Thursday after officials believe he was bitten more than 30 times by his family's Jack Russell terrier, an attack during which the baby's ear was ripped off.

Culpeper County Sheriff's officials say that the alleged attack happened at about just before 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the family's home on Colvin Road in Amissville, about 12 miles southwest of Warrenton. Detectives say that a family member found the dog biting the infant while he was in a bassinet.

Detectives say that during a 30-minute window while the baby's mother took a nap, the dog attacked. A Sheriff's office official said it's possible that there wasn't a lot of noise during the incident.

Deputies then say that the victim's father apparently shot and killed the dog before authorities arrived. The reason for why the dog apparently attacked the child remains under investigation, but officials don't believe the dog was rabid at the time.

The boy was taken to Fauquier Hospital for initial treatment, then flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital. He was in stable condition as of Wednesday night, and doctors were able to reattach the baby's ear.

"We learned today that he was upgraded, so we are thankful for that," Scott Jenkins of the Culpeper County Sheriff's Office said.

No charges have been filed, nor do Sheriff's officials expect to file any. Officials say the terrier was about 12 years old, had been in the home for six years and had never done anything similar to the family's older children.